Best selling author Fern Michaels takes readers on a memorable journey in her current novel, "Yesterday."

When four unlikely children are thrown together to spend the summer at the Parker Plantation in Summerville, South Carolina, little do they know how the bonds of this childhood friendship will bring them together as adults.

Under the watchful eye of housekeeper Mama Pearl, the youngsters; Brie, Callie, Sela and the lone male Bode Jessup, spend their summer days surrounded with love from Mama Pearl. Each child has a past, yet when together at Parker Manor, the past is forgotten.

Twenty-five years later as adults they have scattered apart, leading lives of their own. Callie's upcoming marriage to Wynfield Archer, son of a very wealthy family, Bode, Brie and Sela all return to Parker Manor for the wedding.

However, fate has a say in this. On the night before Callie's wedding, tragedy strikes.

Callie and Wynfield are involved in an accident, courtesy of Wynfield's one too many drinks.

Fearful for his future, Wynfield makes a life altering decision that will change the lives of the four friends who've always loved one another, no matter what.

The strength of their friendship will be tested beyond their wildest imaginings. The question is: Are the bonds of friendship enough, can the memories of yesterday hold their friendship together, or is the truth they've denied themselves too painful to bear?

As always, Fern Michaels creates characters that often remind one to pause and ask themselves if they're real or just that, a character. In "Yesterday," the cast of characters, especially Mama Pearl are delightful! Bode, Callie, Brie and Sela could be your best friend.

Yesterday is one of her greatest tales of love, friendship and redemption. Fern reminds us how powerful the truth really is, and that honesty is the best policy.

I haven't forgotten Mama Pearl and her kindness. Read "Yesterday," I'm sure you'll agree.

Get the tissues out for this one, Because it's a heartbreaker!

After reading this wonderful novel, I was fortunate enough to speak with Ms. Michaels. I asked her about her characters, her daily writing life and how becoming a best selling author has changed her life.

Suzanne: I've read your latest hardcover YESTERDAY and fell in love with MommaPearl. Was there a "Momma Pearl" in your life?

Fern Michaels: Thank you for the compliment. I wish there had been a Momma Pearl in my life. The closest I ever came to a Momma Pearl was my grandmother. She had the kindest eyes, the gentlest hands, the best lap to sit in and the warmest bosom to cry against. She could peel an apple in one piece. As a child I thought that was so wonderful.

Suzanne: To date you've written over 70 novels. What inspires you?

FM: Everything and nothing. A phrase, a picture, the weather, my kids. Sometimes it is as simple as a word dropped in conversation. I guess what that means is my mind is always twirling and whirling

Suzanne: Writing seems to be a passion. What motivated you to write your first book?

Fern Michaels: Writing is a passion. I cannot imagine doing anything else. It's how I start each day of my life. If I don't write, I don't feel like I've contributed anything. I've been doing it now for over 26 years so part of it is also habit. As for motivation to write my firsts book . . . it was pure unadulterated greed. Way back then I thought if you wrote a book you became a millionaire over night. Ha!

Suzanne: Your characters are so real and believable. What's the secret to their creation?

Fern Michaels: Most of my characters are patterned after people I know. At least little bits and pieces. I'm also all those characters. When creating a character and developing her, I always ask myself what I would do, how would I handle this or that, what would I feel? Would I really wear such and such? It's a question and answer game for me in the beginning. I truly, truly believe all authors, whether they admit it or not, are at least in some small way part of each character they develop. To me that is what makes them real instead of cardboard characters.

Suzanne: When I finish one of your books, I find it hard to forget the characters. Is this hard for you as a writer to put them behind you? Or do you find it's best to forget them and move on?

Fern Michaels: It's very hard to put characters to rest. I can recite to you, right now, chapter and verse on each character I've ever developed. I never forget them. I call my kids and my dogs by their names at times. They are all real to me. I work with them each day for long hours. They become my friends, my extended family. It's very difficult to turn them off. Sometimes when I start a new book I'm typing characters' names from the book I just finished.

Suzanne: Give us an idea of what a day in the writing life of Fern Michaels is like.

Fern Michaels: There is no hard and fast 'rule' to my days. They can be boring to exhilarating. I start to work very early, sometimes at seven in the morning. Often times it is earlier. I usually write for six hours or so. With lots of breaks. I walk my dogs, make my bed, do some laundry, do emails, read a newspaper. Make lunch and dinner but while all this is going on my mind is "still at work". I run errands, grocery shop, visit with my kids. Watch the news, usually with half an ear while I work. Watching the tube and talking on the phone are to me, the biggest waste of my time. When I'm not doing all of the above I am Christmas shopping. I do it all year long. I am the oldest kid I know when it comes to Christmas. I go to bed early because I get up early. It is not unusual for me to get up around one in the morning and work for an hour or so if a thought hits me and it needs to get inserted in whatever it is I'm working on. I also dream in color. That's probably due to overload but most of my dreams are work related and memorable to some extent. Guess that's more than you wanted to know.

Suzanne: It's common knowledge you're an avid animals right activist. I applaud you and love how animals are always given an important role in your novels. Tell us how you became involved in this great undertaking and a little bit about your own pets.

Fern Michaels: As a child we were not permitted to have pets. I always said when I was on my own I would have as many as I wanted. I have five at the moment. Think about this. People have people to take care of each other. There is a support group or an organization as well as a book on everything in the world in regard to humans. Animals have to depend on people who unfortunately sometimes turn away. I do what I can for my local SPCA. I received the Humanitarian of the Year award that I treasure as much if not more than some of my best sellers. Right now, at this point in time, it is my mission in life to outfit all K-9 dogs with bullet proof vests. So far, in my area alone, I've donated 22 vests to the K-9's. Which makes my point that people tend to take these animals for granted. You can't ever do that with an animal. My own dogs are all terries, Fred, Harry, Maxie, Rosie and Charlie. Gus crossed the Rainbow Bridge last Easter. He will always be in my heart.

Suzanne: I know readers would love to hear about your 300 year old plantation home. Care to tell us about its discovery and restoration?

Fern Michaels: You mean "The dump"? I found it by accident when my daughter and I went for a walk. You couldn't see the house for the undergrowth. It was in such deplorable condition it should have been condemned. Right up until the day I signed the papers, I said I wasn't buying it. It sits on four acres full of angel oak trees that are as old as the house. They drip Spanish moss. They are so pretty they take your breath away. The entire acreage has been turned into gardens. I have azaleas, crepe myrtles, camellias, pecan trees, tea olive trees that smell like bubble gum and lots of lemon verbena. On windy days it smells like a perfume factory. The house wasn't 'fixable' so we gutted it and saved what we could. There are sixty-seven windows, four of which are the original with the wavy glass that makes you dizzy when you look through it. There are six fireplaces and six bathrooms. There is one long window, what they call six over six, that is entirely stain glass. Two of the doors are also have stain glass on the upper half. The house is 6000 square feet. It's listed in the National Registry in Washington. There is a cottage that was rebuilt from the old slave quarters and a carriage house that I also rebuilt where they used to keep the horses and carriages plus an old barn. My favorite rooms are the dining room and kitchen because they have the old beams with the wooden pegs still intact. I have a glorious front porch with Charleston rocking chairs and two swings. In the spring I load it up with flowers and ferns. I love sitting out there with a good book and my coffee.

Suzanne: I've heard that you inherited a ghost when you purchased your home. Can you tell us a bit about her?

Fern Michaels: She came with the house. No one told me about her until AFTER I bought it. The previous owner documented her. Sometimes she's a pest. She stops all the clocks at least once a week at 9:10 in the morning. I don't know what that means. She moves pillows, leaves flowers (I know this is hard to believe but I live alone and dogs don't pick flowers) she breaks things. Things move. You can actually see them sliding around. She messes with my computer but she hasn't done that in awhile. She hangs out at the bottom of the stairwell. It's the one place the dogs shy away from and it's always chilly there. I can always tell when she's around because the dogs line up and they look like they're at a tennis match. Mary Margaret as we call her, likes to swing on the front porch very early in the morning and around twilight. It can be very still and the swing is moving. The dogs watch it carefully. We are cohabiting nicely.

Suzanne: How has "being Fern Michaels"enabled you to help others less fortunate?

Fern Michaels: It helped me set up the Fern Michael's Foundation that allows me to give out four year scholarships to students who couldn't go to college otherwise. It helps me with the animals I try to help and it makes me happy that I can give back for all the good in my own life. When God is good to you, you have to give back. It's that simple.

Suzanne: Do you actually work in the Day Care Centers you've established?

Fern Michaels: Sometimes. My kids run them. During flu season when everyone is out sick, I pitch in or during vacation time I do my share. I try to get out to each one of them at least once a week.

Suzanne: Have you ever met the recipient's of your scholarships?

Fern Michaels: Yes. I am so proud of all of them. Several of them send me mother's day presents and they all send Xmas cards. They're all professionals and a few of them are now married with children of their own.

Suzanne: Comparing then and now, (beginning of your career) is there anything you've learned that you can share with hopeful writers' , such as myself.

Fern Michaels: Don't ever give up. There's always room for one more good book. If you persevere, you will prevail. I am the living proof. There were many times when I wanted to give up. I didn't. Most important, read. Back in the "old days" when I first started to write, things were different. There were no organizations, no one to give you feed back, no one to gripe and complain to. Today there are so many resources available to young writers. I think the most important thing is to believe in yourself and what you're doing. The rest falls into place.

Suzanne: You've released three novels this year. Can we expect this to continue into the millennium? Can you share any titles?

Fern Michaels: I'm not sure. It really depends on the publisher's scheduling. Next year, JACKPOT and GUEST LIST will be out and then in 2001 THE WITCHING HOUR. Who knows, I might get this sudden burst in insight and come up with an idea for a new one. It goes on a day to day basis with me.

Suzanne: When all is said and done at the end of the day, what are your thoughts when you reflect on your life as a writer?

Fern Michaels: That I am blessed. I thank God each day that He smiled on me. I setout to entertain people via my stories. I can only hope that I succeeded.

And she has! Fern Michaels is not only an extraordinarily talented writer, she is also one of the most giving, kindest souls I've had the pleasure of meeting.